Lahore: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Friday granted bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Dr. Yasmin Rashid and Umar Sarfraz Cheema in the Jinnah House attack case.

Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Arshad Javed heard the bail applications of Dr. Yasmin Rashid and Umar Cheema.

It is pertinent to note that the PTI leaders were arrested on the charges of attack on Jinnah House in Lahore and arson and encirclement and a case has been registered against the accused in Sarwar Road police station. Both leaders are in police custody.

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq Friday said in the hearing of the case of blocking the mobile sims of tax non-filers that the court did not stop from blocking the sims, but only the action against the private company.

Islamabad High Court’s Aamer Farooq heard the miscellaneous petition in the case of blocking mobile sims of tax non-filers.

Justice Aamer Farooq inquired from the Attorney General about his presence in IHC. To which he replied that there was an order with mobile sims, its stay order was to be quashed.

The Chief Justice requested the media that the order made last time was not such that the poor or laborers will not be included in it. The Attorney General replied that exactly, they will not be notified.

Justice Aamer stated the fear is that Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) takes everyone in their loop, now everyone goes and tells that it is not like that, who will go to FBR now? There should be some rules and regulations too.

The Chief Justice asked what will happen if a child is using a sim registered in the name of a non-tax payer. What will the working poor man do who has not registered himself?

The Attorney General said that the notice will not go to any poor person, notices are being issued to non-filers from November 2023, if the person submits a reply or satisfies the FBR, his sim will be restored.

Justice Aamer Farooq said that sims blocked was not prevented, but only the action against a private company.

Later, the Attorney General requested the court to vacate the injunction, on which the court issued a notice and asked for a response by May 22.

Islamabad: A Chinese company MCC Tongsin Resources Friday expressed deep interest in increasing its investment in the mineral and mining sector of Pakistan.

The interest was expressed by Chairman of MCC Tongsin Resources Wang Jicheng during a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad.       

The company gave a detailed briefing to the Prime Minister regarding the construction of a mineral park in Pakistan and informed about the further investment plan.

Welcoming the Chinese company, the Prime Minister said the government is taking steps on priority basis to increase foreign investment in the country.

The premier invited the Chinese company to invest in the mineral sector in Pakistan from mining to the production of export goods. He said: “The investment will be extended full facilitation for extraction of minerals, their processing and export of their products in order to enhance the country's exports”.

Shehbaz Sharif directed the concerned federal ministers and officers to consult with the Chinese company. He also directed to include the Chief Minister of Balochistan and relevant departments and stakeholders of the province in the consultation process.

He stated that China is Pakistan's long-standing friend and important partner in development. China helped Pakistan in difficult times, for which the entire Pakistan nation, is grateful to the Chinese leadership and people.